Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
A man will serve a five-year sentence locally after sending a child explicit messages.
Tyler Russell Spore, 23, Crawfordsville, was sentenced for child solicitation, a level 5 felony.
Spore was sentenced in Kosciusko Superior Court I on Thursday, July 16.
Kosciusko Superior Court I Judge Karin McGrath sentenced Spore to five years in the Kosciusko County Jail, with two years executed and three years suspended on probation. A no-contact order between Spore and the victim in this case remains in effect. Spore must also register as a sex offender.
At sentencing, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Sobek read a statement on behalf of the victim, who was present in the court alongside family.
"I used to look at you like family until you sent all those messages," read the statement. "I was so scared to sleep because I thought you'd break in through my window. I felt unsafe and I shouldn't have to feel that way ... your family makes me feel this is all my fault when all I did was show my parents the messages you sent. I would feel better if you went away for a while."
Sobek said this was a situation where the victim is "deeply affected" by what occurred and asked the court to take that into consideration.
Defense attorney John Barrett said Spore went to Ladoga Recovery Center and successfully completed a program there. He also noted Spore was qualified for Kosciusko County Community Corrections if it was a direct placement by the court.
Affidavit Of Probable Cause
On Jan. 14, 2025, Kosciusko County dispatch advised officers that a man, later identified as Spore, attempted to meet with a child for sex.
According to court documents, a child said they received explicit messages from Spore on Snapchat. In an interview, the child said Spore was a family friend and that this was the first time he communicated with them in an explicit manner. They also said they thought they heard someone knock on their window.
A detective spoke with a neighbor over the phone, and the neighbor said they saw Spore the night he sent the messages to the victim. The neighbor said Spore was sitting outside of the victim's window.
